Rickey's wins women's title

The Michelob Ultra Women's Recreational Soccer League concluded its fall season last month with its annual day-long Soccer Bowl at Walter C. Young Middle School in Pembroke Pines.

Rickey's Restaurant won the title with a 1-0 (3-0 penalty kicks) victory over Raymond James/Schaefer Ross in the championship game. The teams battled to 0-0 in regulation and the teams went to penalty kicks.

Rickey's goalie Citlalli Martinez made several saves during regulation, including a penalty kick save with one minute remaining, and kept Raymond James/Schaefer Ross off the scoreboard in the penalty kick shootout. She saved one of the three shots and the other two missed.

"I was very happy to win," said Martinez, 39, of Pembroke Pines, who has captured two titles in her three years in the league. "You get nervous, but it is really luck."

Martinez said she has been playing soccer for 18 years and enjoys playing in the league.

"It is not that competitive," Martinez said. "You don't get stressed out about winning or losing. The league is about having fun and exercising."

Rickey's team captain Kelly-Anne Cozatti scored winning goals in two of the playoff games, while Rickey's Karen Harrington, Tammy Melton and Stefanie Johnson each converted their penalty kicks for the championship.

In earlier games during the day:

Raymond James/Schaefer Ross, 1 John the Baker 0: Adriana Buenaventura scored in the first half.

The next season for the Michelob Ultra Women's Soccer League, a recreational league for women over 30, will kick off next week. Contact BettyAnne Gallagher at baluvssoccer@bellsouth.net or go to http://members.aol.com/michelobsoccer.

South Florida Elite

The South Florida Elite U-14 boys and U-13 boys teams found success in recent tournaments.

The U-14 boys won the Plantation Thanksgiving tournament, while the U-13 squad was a finalist at the National CASL Raleigh Shootout in North Carolina.

Fabian Bastidas scored the winning goal in overtime as South Florida Elite edged Cape Coral 2-1 in overtime for the Gold Division title in Plantation. William Suedois had tied the game and forced overtime when he scored on a pass from midfielder Jamar Lewis with two minutes remaining in regulation.

South Florida Elite's U-13 boys lost 4-1 to FC Delco (Philadelphia) in the Elite Gold Division championship at the 29th annual CASL Raleigh Shootout. Matheus Ayrolla scored the lone goal for South Florida.

Gary Curreri writes a weekly soccer column covering adult and travel league programs. To submit information, you may contact him at SportsCom5@aol.com or call 954-755-6778 by 6 p.m. on Sunday. You can also fax information to 954-227-4279.